Safety device.



F P. WITHERS.

SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.29, 1913.

L,141,674, Patented June 1, 1915.

UhlTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'3. 'WZTHERS, 0F CHICAG G, ILLENUES, ASSIG-NGE TO ASSOCIATED ENGINEERS CQ'MTPANY, 6F GHICAGO, KLLINQIS, A SQBPGRATION QF ILLINOIS.

SAFETY DEVIG'E.

Specification or Trotters Eatent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed December 29, 133.3. Serial lac. 809,19t:

To all whomit may concern."

Be it known l, FnANors ldfrrrrnns, a citizen the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented a certain new and;

useful improvement in Safety Devices of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to safety devices, and more particularly to a device of this nature which is utilized to safeguard a lineman or other operative from contact with current carrying conductors when such operative is working in proximity to such conductors.

in general my invention contemplates as one embodiment the provision of portable means which can be readily put in position and removed. from a cross arm or other conductor supporting device, the means when mounted in position covering a certain length of the current carrying conductor, so that the lineman may perform his duties in proximity to this current carrying conductor without risk of coming in contact with such conductor.

In order to illustrate my invention more clearly ll will describe one specific form which exemplifies it and which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my-improved device mounted in place upon a cross arm; Fig. 2 is a side view of my device; Fig. 3 is a bottom view thereof; Fig. i is a sectional view online a-a of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line b-b of Fig. 2.

My improved device consists of a framework having two end walls 1 and 2, two partitions 8 and 1 located between the end walls, all secured together by means of Iongitudinal strips 5-5, 6-6, and 7-7. The strips 7 are rounded on their lower face, as shown at 8 to adapt themselves to the upper rounded surface of a cross arm 9 The framework consisting of the elements mentioned has then a suitable inclosing cover consisting of the insulating sheet 10, rounded as shown to accommodate itself to the upper rounded surface of the walls 1, 2, 3 and 4. The envelop 10 is suitably held in place by being attached to the ribs 6 and 7,

and also to the walls 1, 2, 3 and 4, either by screws or otherwise, as may be desirable. Surrounding the envelop 10 is a sheet preferably of soft rubber 11. All of the parts thus far described, except the part 11, are made of some inelastic insulating material, such for instance as fiber. provided so that the device may be suitably carried about, mounted in place and demounted. provided with slots 13 so as to permit of the device being mounted in place, as shown in Fig. 1, in a manner to clear the conductor 14 which is supported by the cross arm 9. It is, of course, understood that the conductor 1 is held upon the cross arm 9 upon some suitable insulator, and my device when mounted in place as shown in Fig. 1, is supported exclusively by the cross arm, but clears all of the current carrying parts, being of course also large enough to accommodate the insulator. By saying that the device clears the current carrying parts ll mean that it is preferably so arranged, although it may, of course, come in contact with such a current carrying conductor if the lineman may possibly lean on it in carrying out his work, but that would not be dangerous, inasmuch as the device is made entirely of insulating material, the necessary air gap being accommodated for to protect the lineman. The central walls 3 and 4: are each provided with a downwardly extending portion 15-15 which parts 15-45 engage the opposite sides of the cross arm to hold the device in place. A slot 16 is provided in each element 3 and 4, together with their depending portions 15 in order to accommodate the conductor 14.

From what has been described the nature of my invention will be clear. It will be seen that the device consists of a rigid form of inelastic insulating material supported exclusively by the cross arm. It will also be readily seen that a permanent air gap is provided between the conductor and the linemans body. In practice I have found that a good selection of air gap would be two and one half inches of air gap including fiber. The device can, of course, be carricd by the strap is shown. I have constructed devices of this nature whose insulation test is as high as twenty thousand volts.

My improved device has no wearing parts,

A strap 12 is The end walls 1 and 2 are each and cannot be punctured. The device also is of such a character that it cannot be re-' moved from the cross arm by the use of ordinary force, except when lifted by means of the strap, so the device is thus of a nature to prevent its being forced from its position or displaced from its position when the lineman leans against it in carrying out his Work. It will also be readily apparent that many changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having, however, thus described one form which my invention may take, what if claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A linemans protector adapted for temporary mounting on a cross-arm consisting of a rigid form closed at the top and two sides to cover the insulator and a portion of the conductor on either side thereof, having means for slidably engaging a cross-arm independently of the insulator and conductor to thereby support the form in position, said means having means to' accommodate the conductor without touching the same as said protector is mounted in place and withdrawn from said cross-arm.

2. A linemans protector adapted for tem-Q porary mounting on a cross-arm consisting of a rigid form closed at the top and two sides to cover the insulator and a portion of the conductor on either side thereof, and having means for slidably engaging a crossarm independently of the insulator and conductor to thereby support the form in position, said last aforesaid means consisting of a pair of depending arms adapted: to engage the opposite sides of the cross-arm, having slots to accommodate the conductor during Withdrawal and replacement of said protector.

3. A'linemans protector adapted for temporary mounting on a cross-arm consisting of a rigid form closed at the top and two sides to cover the insulator and a portion of the conductor on either side thereof, and having means for sli'dably engaging a crossarm independently of the insulator and conductor to thereby support the form in position, said last aforesaid means consisting of a pair of depending arms adapted to engage the opposite sides of the cross-arm, said arms having grooves to accommodate the conductor as the device is being mounted in place or removed.

4. A linemans protector adapted for temporary mounting on a cross-arm consisting of a rigid form closed at the top and two sides to cover the insulator and a portion of anet/a 2 the conductor on either side thereof, and havlngmeans for engaglng a cross-arm 1ndependently of the insulator and conductor to thereby support the form in position, said v ductor when the device is being mounted in place or removed. I

5. A linemans protector adapted for temporary mounting on a cross-arm consisting of a rigid form closed at the top and two sides to cover the insulator and a portion of the conductor on either side thereof, and having means for engaging a cross-arm independently of the insulator and conductor to thereby support the form in position, said last aforesaid means consisting of a pair of depending arms adapted to engage the opposite sides of the cross-arm, said arms having grooves to accommodate the conductor as the device is being mounted in place or removed, said form having end walls provided with grooves to accommodate the conductor when the device is being mounted in place or removed, and a covering of soft rubber upon the exposed outer surface of said form,

6. A linemans protector adapted for temporary mounting on a cross-arm consisting of a rigid form closed at the top and two sides to cover the insulator and a portion of the conductor on either side thereof, and having means for engaging a crossarm independently of the insulator and conductor to thereby support the form in position,

said last aforesaid means consisting of a' pair of depending arms adapted to engage the opposite sides of the crossarm, said arms having grooves to accommodate the conductor as the device is being mounted in place or removed, said form having end walls provided with grooves to accommodate the conductor when the device is, being mounted in place or removed, a covering of soft rubber upon the exposed outer surface of said form, and a lifting strap secured to said form.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of November A. D., 19 3.

FRANCIS P. rrn'nn s.

Witnessesz:

Max W, ZABEL, A, L. Jonas- 

